Savior

Another great start that will serveÂ as a foundation for the long-term.Â One of the noblest professionsÂ that I have come to admire is the commonly overlooked position of our firemen. When these boys get the call 9 times out of 10 its a life orÂ death situation, andÂ day in and day out they come to the aid of the onesÂ who call upon them. The lower section represents the painÂ andÂ uncertaintyÂ that is shared on theÂ end of theÂ suffering. And above, is the veiled angel whoÂ embodies the idea of the unknown hero who will soon be their savior. Blessed to know that there are try herosÂ like my brother Jared are on the other end if I were to need them.

When In Rome

Fall asleep in LA, wake up in Ancient ROME... We landed in the eternal city and immediately hit the streets. The rich beauty and history found here gives this city a certain type of energy that goes unmatched. I cant help but describe Rome as the mecca of art. Countless influential masterpieces can be found here in all fields from sculpture to architecture, painting and everything in between. The brothers and I covered some serious ground over the day and into the night, leaving us with an overwhelming feeling of inspiration. Take a look at views from day 1 beginning around the corner from our apartment at the Colosseum.

From the infamous bridge filled with Bernini's angels...

To the Vatican...

While walking through St. Peter's Bascilica our new friends, who happen to be the Vatican Guards, gave us the oppertunity to experience the Church after closing. I think when we visited last year we shared our visit with over 5,000 tourists. Today, we had all of this to ourselves...

And there she was...

The city is comes alive at night. The warm glow of the marble is truly a beautiful sight to see.

Â The only way to end the evening. A big thanks to Paolo, the man behind the Rome Convention, for a memorable dinner with the family.

Follow your Heart

Dear Mama

Â Real men love their moms. Joey is in to pay tribute, not to someone that has passed away, but to his living and healthy mother. Why? If your asking yourself that, then you need to go find your moms and go give her a hug and a kiss immediately. Great way to end the New York campaign. I want to send a huge thank you to everyone that made this trip so memorable. Your love and support most definitely does not go unnoticed. Thank you all.Â Last one from New York...

Recap to follow

And since were on the topic of mommas, heres some classic Tupac for you from the archives.

Angels and Demons

The brother Carlos was in the studio last night to seal up his chest we had started some time ago. Another one thats in it for the long term, already with some great work from the brother's Jun Cha and Lil B, and honor to add another addition to his collection. Long hours last night with this one...

Based on the trials and tribulations of the great Saint Michael battling the fallen angels of heaven. The question lies, what side of the battle do you wish to partake in? The inner demons one carries are only know to the beholder, but how you push forward is the basis for how one's character is built. Here lies the battle of a Saint...

Some closer looks...

A nig thanks to Carlos for pulling through and sitting like a rock. Further additions to his collection in the works...

Calm Canadian

Great beginnings with Clint. Hailing down from our neighboring country of Canada, we kicked off his collection with two sessions back to back. Still in the early stages with our first meeting, but a good start none the less. Our early efforts were focused on a dedication to the recent passing of his moms. Never an easy subject to work with, but hopefully this bring some closure.

Next was a different approach on the opposite end of the spectrum, twisting the theme of temptation and using the symbolism of the forbidden fruit to help tell that story.

Destroy…Rebuild

Only a few hours rest after I returned from London, did I find myself back in full swing with the Fall term here at Art Center. Halfway through the program things are starting to make sense. The theme is simple...

Destroy ... & Rebuild

A brief look into a couple of studies done over the past few days. The key to growing in any craft is to come to an understanding that every brick layed will uiltimately lead you towards the finish. All time spent on any lesson learned is used later. So it only makes sense that in whatever you do with your time you are always fully invested. Of course you would, right? No matter how basic, or simple, or seemingly unimportant, you may not see it now but have faith that it will most definitely be called upon sometime down the line. Basic perspective may seem boring, but without that knowledge, recreating an ancient city in Greece would be that much more difficult... if it wasn't so much already.

Once again I preach that the foundation is the most important ingredient.

This term im diving back into my studies with oil as a medium. It feels great to be pushing paint around once again on a regular basis. Finding inspiration for a few fun head studies was closer to home than I thought. One was inspired by the big homie Estevan, pulling an image from his Classic book, LA WOMAN.

The other was my neighbor Gonzo. My instructor wanted me to find someone the was intense and very charismatic. He gets Gonzo. Luckily he is always willing to lend a hand when it comes to doing my homework. Don't let the tough shell fool you, underneath is a big tedybear.Â

Necessary Evil

Building the collection with the brother Santiago. The classic St. Michael begans telling the story of the great battle that we all share, being the one within us. We start with creating the strong focal point of interest that will transition to the lower. Touching on the ideas of everyday striving to overcome our demons as we pursue our life's ambitions. Using our struggles to fuel the fire within and continue to move onward...

SPOTLIGHT

The new issue of Urban Ink just dropped with Â in-depth interviews on myself as well as Jose Lopez, Jun Cha and Miguel Ochoa. Couldn't be any more proud and honored to share a spread alongside my brothers, as we do here. The article focuses on the strength of our team and the continued growth of us all as artists. Interesting stories from all that shed light on humble beginnings and brighter futures. A huge thank you to Urban Ink and our brother Michael Nguyen for the honor. Be sure to pick up your copy today and read up on the articles yourself.

Milano Convention

Milano Convention x Lowrider Tattoo

Â Wrapping up work here at the Milano Convention. It's not every day where I am able to receive advice from great artists like Robert Hernandez and get to watch the masters of the Horitoshi family work under the same roof. Any amazing weekend to say the least. Aside from slaving away at the booth I managed to break free a minute and see what the world looked like away from my station. The greatest part was having the opportunity to meet so many great people from all over the world, both collectors and artists.Â So much love here in Italy, enjoy a few views from the show. Jose leads us into battle...

The brother Miguel showing strong all weekend.

Our brother Macko from Italy had the honor to seal up Og David's body suit, which later took 1st place for best overall body suit.

Horitishi family keeping tradition alive, a privilege to witness their process in person.

Looking forward to returning to Rome come May. Thanks once again for all the continued love and support.

Anatomy Of Type

Going back to my younger years, I remember bombing the city streets using graffiti as a tool to communicate my art. That deep rooted passion for lettering would cultivate there and later grow into the form of a tattoo, as most of my first tattoos were of course lettering. Its elegance and timeless qualities have always inspired me, but not until recently did I really get to explore the beautiful world of typography in the historical sense. Diving into the birth of hand drawn symbolism, to the old styles of the early empires, and thenÂ coming full circle to today.Â To push and explore any area of interest,Â its important to understand the anatomy of where it comes from. Thinking about balance, weight, spacing, and overall harmony within the letters in just as important asÂ the word that is being communicated. Studying alongsideÂ graphic designers at my school that are religious about this stuff has made me look at type in a whole new context. TakeÂ a look into the process...

Learning through endless practice...

"Know the rules well, so that you can break them effectively" -Daili Lama

Its interesting to see how tattoo artists have pushed the boundaries with lettering such as script and old style fonts. Watching guys likeÂ Miguel Ochoa and Johhny Opina push the envelope into creating these trulyÂ unique styles that my instructors trip out on isÂ nothing short of inspiring. To thinkÂ that tattooing is impacting and contributing to something 1000's of years old is amazing.

Sacrifice

The brother Matt is back down from the bay to continue work with his backpiece. The initial sessions for larger scale projects such as this one, are mainly dedicated to laying down the groundwork and really trying to see the direction we want to take with each collection. With the foundation set, we began building...still much work to be done, heres a look in process.

Matt's back is based around the idea of sacrifice.

Still to early to go into detail, but keep in mind...

"A man who won't die for something is not fit to live." -Martin Luther King Jr.

A big thanks to Matt for making the trip. Be sure to keep an eye out for future sessions to come.

The MET

Still going strong here in New York. For now enjoy some views from a visit earlier in the week to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Its undeniable that the Met holds one of our countries most prized collections, last week I was reminded whyâ¦.

The halls are filled with endless inspiration.

Canova's presence was definitely felt in the hall of sculptures. First up is the Perseus with the Head of Medusa

And one of my personal favorites, Count Ugolino and His Sons.

Easily the favorite from our outing. Touring from the Netherland's Vermeer's, "Girl With the Pearl Earing" left us speechless.

Join the Ranks

Give Thanks

Â Arturo is back in to add to his collection surrounding the first piece of script that I did under the watchful eye of Jose when I arrived in January. In the light of the holiday, I am pleased to say that I have much to be thankful for this year. I made the trip down to LA with dreams and aspirations and nothing more. No place to live, no place to work, the only thing for certain was that I had been accepted to attend the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena.Â I knew not what to expect, but I knew my mind was ready. I had convinced myself that the stars had alligned for me and that the time was now. I had found much trouble in my past, and now had an opportunity dictate what type of footprint I would leave behind with my life, and made the decision it was to be greater than what it was. I had arrived in LA after being on the road all day and made my way directly to Fountain Valley to see the man that would prove to change my life forever. I am blessed and very fortunate to have found Jose. I remember walking in that night, he was working at the time I arrived, but had stopped what he was doing to hear me out. His client ended up having to wait a few more hours to get back to work for we talked for awhile. That night he made the decision to take me under his wing and since that night he has been nothing but a positive influence in my life in and outside of the studio. I have learned an incredible amount from Jose and continue to do so with everything that he shares with me. Its an almost unrealistic thought to think you can get anywhere in this world without the help of others. It takes a collective effort of equally invested individuals to achieve the greatest things that life has to offer. Take a minute to salute the ones that have helped you out along the away...

I guess what I am trying to say here is if you are one of the lucky ones to actually realize your dreams there is no reason that you should limit yourself from pursuing and acheiving them. Jose told me once that ,"time whats for no man, don't be the one that lets it pass you by." There is no better time than now, to begin the fight for what you believe. Whether it be an engineer or doctor that you aspire to be, or a father, or maybe its an artist. The only one to limit yourself from acheiving this is you. Once you have built the courage to dedicate your mind, body and soul completely, believe me, the rest will be easy. To my young dreamers out there, I salute you! May your journey be a smooth one...

There is great meaning in life for those who are willing to journey. -Jim England

Map Out

Lately I've been getting lost in the beautiful world that is painting. When prepping for a larger piece, one can never forget to neglect the planning, studying and problem solving that goes into the development stages. Before moving forward to the finish, theÂ big problems first need to be solved. As with anything, the importance lies in the bricks. Here's a look at a head study for a new painting in the works.

A short clip pulled from Instagram, take a walk through some of the process...

Showcase

I was both suprised and humbled to be awarded here in Rome at the convention over the weekend. Having so many amazing artists under one roof is always inspiring for me and now being able to have my work stand alongside them is truly an honor. We took home 1st small black and grey for the work done on our very own Krystal. I was talking with Jose about what these awards mean. When you work as hard as we do, its obvious we don't put in the hours in hopes to just receive awards. Its our craft, our passion, our commitment to excellence, that keeps us pursuing this. But its also nice to be awarded with a kind of recognition that is respected by your fellow tattoo artist, as the ones are here over seas. It feels good to be awarded for my work, but knowing that my mentors and colleagues are proud of me and what i'm doing, feels better...

The award was a piece of art in its own right. Something nice to bring home to moms.

Last Of A Dying Breed

In a day where everything is beginning to be mass produced, shipped over from china fresh off the conveyer belt, and numbers sold seem more important than the integrity and quality of the actual product itself, it's good to know that real craftsman still exist. Watching my good brother Jeff work from raw material to actual form and functionality was a breath of fresh air. Jeff is a rare breed. Honored to have the opportunity to take part in his process from start to finish...

20 plus pieces are handmade here in Jeff's studio...

The attention to detail I observed was incredible. No detail went unnoticed.

Enjoy a short vid put together via my iPhone. A day's work in 15 seconds...

Switch Gears

The brothers and I are back on US soil and back to work. After a great trip to Europe its time to dive back into my studies with school as well as taking all the inspiration I soaked up from over seas and re-injecting it back into my work. The studio is like our lab. Constantly we are trying to new things, working nonstop, anxiously waiting to showcase and share that progress with the world. In fact, one of the main purposes that we travel is this, to spread what we are excited about here at Lowrider with you all. Under this roof there are no egos, no negativity, just a band of brothers collectively driving this craft in hopes to push it to another plateau. I guess what I am trying to say is it feels good to be home...

New Love

Â Were making our way towards the end of the Summer term over here at the Art Center. When you start seeing piles of students sleeping in the cafeteria you know were getting close. Aside from the rest of my studies here, Painting has been one that stands out and has really intrigued me. Although I have explored I little on my own in my younger years, nothing compares to all that I have been exposed to at school. It has proved to be meditation and torment at the same time. Honestly the most challenging medium I have attempted to pick up aside from trying to learn how to tattoo back when I first started out. Roosevelt said, " Nothing in this world is worth having or doing unless it means effort, pain and difficulty." The struggle is the most valued ingredient. Learn from your failures and keep pushing forward.

Take a look at some studies thus far pulled straight from the classroom

This is definitely something I will persue further... only the tip of the iceberg and I think i have found...

King of Kings

Next up is the brother Brian in to seal up his inner bicep with late great, Roman General, Julius Caesar. Caesar a man with a vision beyond his years, one who created one of the greatest empires of all time. As an up and coming musician laying the bricks for something bigger, my man Brian can relate. This one goes out to all my young entrepreneurs out there.

Sanctioned

Earlier tonight myself and the brothers from the studio, stopped by Cartoon's warehouse in support of his new line of Sanctioned products. Toons is a true pioneer and has been a huge inspiration to me since day one. Seeing the level of success he has come to know is beautiful. This evening proved to be a memorable one with the boys and one that has left us with the notion of what hard work can lead to.

Enjoy some views from the event...

On display for all to drewl over were his countless candy chariots...

Eyecandy...

And for all you loyal viewers out there, here's a behind the curtains look at the Cartoon's work station. Trip out on the new masterwork that's in progress

A huge thanks to Toons for having us. Be sure not to sleep on his new products and take a trip to his new site for a free sample.

The Good Fight

I recently had the honor of working on one of my instructors from Art Center. Beginning his career working for Disney, actually helping build Disneyland, he has enjoyed an amazing career, now being able to give back by teaching as well as creating children's books, which you can view here. I have come to understand that the life of an artist is not an easy one. Most are spent struggling, some lead to torment, almost none lead to riches... so why then? At some point passion overides all. You battle back at what comes at you for following your lifes greatest ambitions. In return you get the fulfillment of one that has fought to follow the dream, not just as an artist but whatever your craft may be. Not conforming to society's idea of the norm, and having the courage to be an individual, is what I respect. Ron Robledo has mine. For his piece we pulled inspiration from the classic underdog film, Rocky. A great session with Ron, take a look..

âLife's not about how hard of a hit you can give... it's about how many you can take, and still keep moving forward.â Â Â -Rocky Balboa

Sisters Of The Inquisition

Had the privelage of visiting with the big brother Shaun Berke at his studio today. When you hear about all of these incredibley talented underground Â painters, and they are out there, Shaun is one at the top of that list. Fellow Art Center alumn who stills come back to teach as well, this guy's talent and knowledge in the field of painting goes unmatched. With a solo exhibition nearing at the reputable La Luz De Jesus Gallery, my man has been dedicating much time into his newest body of work entitled, "Sister's of the Inquistion."

"When principles are put to the question, there is no escaping physical reality. Though an idea cannot be broken, a bearer can. Fire speaks to ice, and an acolyte melts. These are the forms of water, unbound, in the house of black and white. These are wet nuns.Â
Drink Venezia dry."

Luckily for me he took some time fom his hectic schedule to talk with me about his work and show me around his studio.Â Its always inspiring to walk into a room filled with amazing work, not just finished but in process as well.

Shaun has been experimenting lately developing his own techniques, which are beyond me at this point. The technical level he is executing is truly incredible. But yet he makes it look so easy...

You can tell much about a man by what books he houses in his library. It pays to be the one that knows...

Â

"SISTERS OF THE INQUISITION"

January 4 - 27, 2012

Artist Reception: Friday, January 4th; 8-11 PM

Â A big thanks to Shaun for having me. Note that this is only a glimpse into what he will be showcasing come January. If you are in the area this show is a MUST.

Dangerously Beautiful

Long days lead to longer nights. Much exciting work has been in the works in and out of the studio lately, that will be revealed shortly. For now, take a look into a recent project with the brother Sal.

To kick off Sal's collection he chose to pay homage to the strong and beautiful mexican women that have impacted his life.

Never underestimate the strength of a woman, especially one ready for war...

Remember fellas, it's a man's world, but it wouldn't be nothin without a woman or a girl.

Uniform

While thick in the study of the human form we take a turn in the study of what lyes on top. The beauty of drapery, or clothing, is how it enriches the appearance of the human form while simultaneously gives clarity to the movements and actions that occur within. As we break down the essentials and formulas to each fold, I have now been made aware that certain laws govern the seemingly randomness of folds that we encounter. Once the artist can break down the structure, the beauty of line and almost musical rhythm of the material can now play their part. The ones that mastered this art, is where I turn. Leonardo and Durer have been my teachers over the past couple of nights. Take a look at some recent studies taken straight from the classroom...

Thin Line Between Love and Hate

Â Heres a look at an original painting I finished up last month based on the ancient Greek tragedy ofÂ MedeaÂ written by the great Euripides. For those of you who are not familiar with her story, it is one filled with plenty of drama, betrayal and revenge. Medea was a mother of two children that not only left her home and everything behind to be with her husband Jason, but also saved his life and is the reason that he was pushed into greatness for slaying the dragon. This is the kind of woman you just dont use up, throw away, and leave behind for another woman without expecting to see any reproductions. To seek revenge she not only took the life of his new bride, but took the lives of their two children as well. This woman made sure her first cut was the deep.

Â Â When approaching this project I chose to stay focused on the phsycology of the piece. The killing and the revenge is one thing, but I wanted to take a step back and look deeper into her story. My depiction of Medea takes place during the moment where she conciously or not decides that there is only one way out of the situation brought before her... the moment where this woman essentially goes from a loving mother and wife to a ruthless murderer with nothing but revenge on her mind.

"Nothing inspires forgiveness quite like revenge." Scott Adams

It felt good to wrap up this piece. My love for the craft of painting has grown much throughout this project and Â I can assure you this isÂ only the beginning... stay tuned

Parental Guidance

Another good start... Client reflecting on the impact of the twoÂ most influential people in his life. I can only imagine what comes withÂ raisingÂ a child. The responsibilities of guiding a life, preparing one for the world unknown, deserves the highest honor. This one goes out to all the mothers and fathers out there that have made the ultimate sacrifice, putting their dreams on hold to give the greatest gift of all... we salute you

Committed

The brother Gary is back in from Houston Texas to continue. This session was spent laying in both hand shots. One based on strengthÂ and one family. To think, five months ago, Gary came to see me he had not one tattoo, and now we've just about sealed up both arms completely.Â Its clients like Gary that understand the process, the patience and endurance involved with reaching the end of these large scale projects. Quality is always the motivation. With time and persistence we get there. Always good to have Gary in the chair... be sure to look out for final looks with his collection...

Vatican Painting Collection

First up is a look at the Vatican Painting Collection.Â The collection contains some masterpieces of the greatest artists of the history of Italian painting, from Giotto to Beato Angelico, from Melozzo da ForlÃ¬ to Perugino and to Raphael, from Leonardo to Tiziano, to Veronese, to Caravaggio. All the Italians are here under one roof...

Also in the permenant collection is one of Caravaggio's best, "The Entombment of Christ"

A rare look into the painting process of Leonardo Da Vinci.

Of all the old masters I witnessed at the Vatican, the work of Raphael is what stuck with me. His grace, clarity and natural quality that embody his work are executed at a level of ease that seems almost too natural to be a painting.

With such a complex composition of so many figures it's hard to stay fluid and keep the work from stiffening up. With Raphael nothing is repeated, everything about his paintings feel so lifelike and natural, theres a kind of complexity that is mastered here, that no one but Raphael can achieve. In essence, nobody paints like Raphael...

Probably the most extraordinary room in the paypal pallace, are the Raphael Rooms, which at one point in time was the room that the Pope would sign important decrees and documents. When Raphael was painting these rooms, not only was the Bascilica being redesigned but Michelangelo was down the hall painting the Sistine Chapel Ceiling. These rooms are considered to hold the greatest frescoe paintings of the high rennasance. Enjoy...

The last piece I'll showcase is the most famous fresco in the collection entitled, The School Of Athens. Here Raphael depicts the greatest minds of Ancient Greece. The central figures being Plato and his student, Aristotle were the ones that laid the foundation for western philosophy and science. Plato, interested in the spiritual, the every day world, is shown pointing upward to the devine and Aristotle more concerned with the physcial and what we can observe and make sense of is shown with his hand extended level to earth. Two different ways of thinking about the world, both as influential as the next.

Amazing...

And of course paying respects to Michelangelo he includes him in this work below.

Raging Bull

Another smooth run with Krystal's collection. Last night turned into a memorable session over here at the studio. With Jose overÂ myÂ shoulder for a change, we began to analyze and breakdown technique, approach and the overall direction that these pieces take. Another reminder of the importance to never stray to far away from the drawing board. As we grow, it is crucial that we continue to think in terms of recreating, rebuilding and re-thinking every step of the process. As easy as it is to fall into a comfort zone or familiar way of working, it is critical that we keep our minds fresh and moving forward. Never get to comfortable with a certain way of working, for that in turn is when the growing process will cease. As we are all striving to learn and progress over here at Lowrider Tattoo School, no matter what side of the globe your on, we need to continue to use our time wisely, think out of the norm, and strive together to elevate this craft to a new platform.

Give Refuge

ClientÂ traveling from Northern England is back in to continue. While the brothers wereÂ on the grind in London it was nonstop in theÂ LA studio. Not an easy session to pull through, GarethÂ sat like a warrior.

After the foundation has settled in we can continue to layerÂ the greys,Â which allows us to achieve a richerÂ and wider value range.

Another fulfilling project,Â feels good to see this one come full circle. Keep an eye out for more to come with this collection, come London in January.

Student

The past week has been a refreshing reminder that the student is the best position one can obtain. Since I walked through the doors over here at Lowrider I have been consumed in absorbing all the knowledge that Jose and the rest of the homies have been willing to share with me. This studio houses nothing but family, and it just so happens that they are some of the most talented artists I have had the honor of getting to know. With the adjustment and the vigorous workload ahead the homies have been preparing me for whats to come... In the meantime let me give you a sneak view of what Jose has been up to in the lab...

I hope Jose doesn't mind me sharing this with you all, for it is still in its early stages of completion, but I couldn't help myself.

Timeless...

Catching my breath before I dive back into the studio. One last thing, take a trip down memory lane with Jose on the Lowrider Tattoo Studios Blog. Thanks for the honor brother.

The GENERAL

Never Surrender

Been away from the computer for awhile, taking a break to relax the mind a little. Will share some photos from the past few weeks soon, but for now heres a look back at some work from the a few weeks back. The good brother John is back in the studio from Chicago. Building on what we had started on his last visit, we made some good progress with this meeting. Pulling inspiration from the trials and tribulations of Hercules, John can easily relate to those unthinkable feats embarked on during his time spent in Afghanistan. One of the first deployed after 9/11, his stories that he shared were nothing short of amazing that he is still here with us. The funny thing about John is, you would think after all of the shit he had been through over there he would hold bitter feelings of anger or resentment. Actually he is the opposite. Probably the most approachable guy in the room he is full of life and always has a smile on his face when he's here with us. A true soldier, he did what he had for us and was able to maintain himself in the process. A real inspiration for all of us...

Rome’s Treasures

As we near our upcoming trip to Europe, here's a look back at some views from Rome earlier in the year...

When you witness these masterpieces for yourself, you are in the company of artists that have dedicated their whole lives to perfecting their craft. To reach the level of excellence that these old masters did, is not impossible, it just takes endless amounts of work. Once you decide on your occupation... you must immerse yourself in your work. You have to fall in love with it and never complain about your job. You must dedicate your life to mastering your skill.Â Â I do the same thing over and over, improving bit by bit. There is always a yearning to achieve more. I'll continue to climb, trying to reach the top, but who knows where the top is.

"If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery, it wouldn't seem so wonderful at all." Â -Michelangelo

Saint Felipe

King’s Path

Making some progress with our good brother Toby Leonard's collection. This is the first piece of many that will fill the remainder of his leg. Toby, who has been one of our main support systems in London, recently made the move to LA to pursue some great opportunities. Im proud of my brother, who is embarking on this new chapter in his life. Not many can muster the courage to make those bigger decisions that dictate what one's future will be. Dreams are the inspiration, ambition starts with courage, why make it harder than it is? Take the leap and test the waters. With Toby it was a no brainer, and he has the discipline and passion to do great things out here, which I am looking forward to seeing unfold. Always a pleasure working on my brother from another mother, take a look at progress from last night's session.

TATTOOLIFE

Hard work pays off. Honored to have our team spotlighted in the newest issue of Tattoo Life Magazine. A great article showcasingÂ a deeper look into what happens behind the scenes during our travels. Good friend and up and comingÂ writer,Â Michael Nguyen, met with us during our last trip to the east coast back in December and shared the experience first hand. Think deeper than the finished product and focus on what lies within. Again the process of development, how and why, are crucial, butÂ the team, even more so...

Every member contributes in their own right. One person's hard work can lead to great things, but when the collective effort of those willing to work and sacrifice themselves for oneÂ shared vision come together,Â the possibilities become endless.

"The strength of the team is each individual member, the strength of each member is the team."Â

Jose Lopez, Klown Saravia, Pablo Aponte and myself share the endless amount of work that goes into these trips,Â and the rich fulfillment that blesses us thereafter.

A huge thanks to Michael NguyenÂ and Miki Vialetto for the opportunity. Pick up your issue today...

Dynamic Sketching

I have been sharing views a few of the places I have been visiting to draw lately, so its only right to show a few sketches from the days out on location. The technique used below is all based on basic principles. Perspective, relationships, boxes, cylinders and line quality, to name a few. Keep in mind this isn't a finished drawing technique, but a dynamic way of sketching, focused on capturing what you see accurately and with some fines. I am at peace when I am out and about with a sketchbook and a pocket full of pens. Here's a few pages from the sketchbook I've been keeping with me when I go out. Enjoy a few scribbles from last weeks efforts...

Uffizi Painting Collection

Florence houses one of the oldest and most famous art museums of the western world.Â Take a minute to soak in some much-needed inspiration with a walk through the Uffizi Gallery's painting collection found right here in the heart of the city. At the beginning of the trip I had the opportunity to take in the collection at the Vatican, and now here we are once again with more masterpieces to drewl over. I have found myself in a very critical point in my pursuit of painting and the arts in general. Seeing these masterpieces for myself has given me a boost of hunger to return home to work and study harder than ever before. These artists reached the levels that they did not by chance, luck or any magic of any kind. No tricks or gimmicks, but passion, commitment and perseverance. Nothing in this world is given, but if we strive for more, we can surprise ourselves at what can be achieved. I believe that the greats had no idea of what their work and passions would lead to. The levels that they reached, in many cases had never been reached before. One thing I am sure they had in common is a thirst that couldn't be quenched, a love for their work that overrides any selfish need or want. When you find your life's work, nothing else matters. Find your niche and own it. Learn from the greats and push it further...

Enjoy

Botticelli

Leonardo Da Vinci

Michelangelo

Raphael

Artemisia Gentileschi

Caravaggio

Van Dyck

And lastly the man who reached the highest level of painting than any other... the one and only Rembrandt. Here you can see his development from early in his career to his later more abstract style later in career.

Fall of the KING

The good bro Brian is back in the studio to continue. The long hours are starting to pay off. Enjoy some progress shots from the journey so far... Still to early to go into detail, but the general theme surrounding his collection is entitled, "The fall of a KING."

A closer look...

A few weeks later Brian stopped by to show us how everything healed up.

Keep an eye out for future sessions as we began to bring together the whole side. A big thanks to Brian for being a trooper everytime were in session.

Protector

Last piece from London. Amanda is back in the chair for another long one. This girl is true soldier. With a room full of men getting tattooed crying about, she sits like a statue, not a word. A big thanks to her for sticking it out with me. Saint Michael the protector...

Leonardo’s Legacy

There is no doubt that Milan is Da Vinci's city. Witnessing his genius for myself was definitely one of the highlights from the trip. After seeing his paintings at the National Gallery in London, it was here that I saw his true passion unfold.Â Â Leonardo has often been described as the archetype of the Renaissance Man,Â a man of "unquenchable curiosity" and "feverishly inventive imagination".Â From what we know of him through his diaries, he considered himself to be a scientist and an engineer first, and a painter and sculptor second.Â He is widely considered to be perhaps the most diversely talented person ever to have lived and I think I would agree.

âIt had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.âÂ

On display were rare pages pulled from his notebooks.

Being that he was THE artist of the time he was given special permission to dissect human bodies and study them personally.

A the Museum of engineering, that is dedicated to him, you can find all of his inventions brought to life. From flying machines to military weaponry, they did a great job of bringing life to his genius. He was definitely a man light years ahead of his time...

And lastly Leonardo's decaying masterpiece, The Last Supper. Not sure how I managed to leave this place without ending up in an Italian jail, as countless security rushed me and threatened to take my camera and fined more money than you can imagine. All of my photos were forced to be deleted, but somehow a few survived... Since you all have been so loyal, heres few from behind the walls, enjoy.

Life is pretty simple: You do some stuff. Most fails. Some works. You do more of what works. If it works big, others quickly copy it. Then you do something else. The trick is the doing something else.âÂ
-Leonardo Da Vinci

CARNIVAL

A quick Â look back from Italy, taking a break to explore Venezia.

Little did we know when we arrived it just so happened to be the first day of Carnival.

Aside from the beauty that Venice brings, one thing that stuck out from our visit was the amount of effort put into the masks worn for theÂ "La Maschera piÃ¹ bella."Â If a jury of international costume and fashion designers make the trip out to host the contest for best mask, it must be worth it..

Jose joining in on the fun..

Just to give you an idea of how many are still interested in keeping the spirit of Carnival alive

Organized Chaos

A small look intoÂ a portion of the work being prepared right now for midterms at Artcenter. Here's a few preliminaryÂ illustrations showing invaluable early thinking that goes before anyÂ final compositions. Scrambling to prepare countless presentations with not even close to enough time to do so.Â Long nights will surely leadÂ into early mornings. When failure is not an option you must deliver by any means. Stay posted.